No smoking, drugs, alcohol or firearms are allowed at any time on the property.
We do not have indoor use of the lobby area. Inquisiminds has a separate entrance to the left of the building. The sanctuary, the lobby, the church office, and its connecting hallway are not part of our rented space and should not be entered.
Parking: Please do not park in the area in front of the church. Inquisiminds parking is the rear area of the parking lot back by the basketball court. This includes when parents are waiting for their students during class.
Leave no trace! Place all trash and recyclables in their appropriate containers, and leave your occupied space cleaner than you found it. On rainy days, ensure wet umbrellas and shoes don’t track in mud and dirt.
Keep in mind we are guests in our rented space.
One of the advantages of homeschooling is allowing each student to perform at the level they are capable of. Therefore, a parent may choose to place their child in a class ONE grade level up or down from their age appropriate grade. Please keep in mind that any more than one grade level needs to be approved by the teacher prior to registration and the student must demonstrate the appropriate maturity level to handle the classroom work and environment.
We will follow or exceed all CDC COVID-19 guidelines and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) policies. Our policies will be reviewed and updated as the CDC and FCPS revise their guidance.
As of September 1, 2022, face coverings are optional for students and staff, in alignment with guidance from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
When the CDC COVID-19 Community Level for Fairfax County is high, or when Inquisiminds determines that risk levels are elevated, all students and staff will be required to wear face coverings indoors, except while actively eating or drinking. Additionally, if Abiding Presence requires face coverings, Inquisiminds students must also comply.
All staff are fully vaccinated and boosted.
HEPA air filters run in every classroom at all times, regardless of COVID levels.
When masks are required:
Masks must fit securely over the nose and mouth and under the chin, without gaps.
Outdoor masking is encouraged but not required.
Face shields and gaiters are not acceptable face coverings.
Assigned seating will be used in all classes to assist with contact tracing.
Indoor seating maintains a minimum of 3 feet of separation.
For Junior Academy (Grades K–2), plexiglass separators are used.
Lunch Procedures (as of September 2024):
Lunch is held indoors, with accommodations made for students who need to eat separately.
When weather permits, students will eat outside with 6 feet of separation.
When indoors, students will maintain 6 feet of separation, with windows open and HEPA filters running.
All students and staff will use hand sanitizer upon entering the classroom and after returning from outdoor activities.
Classrooms, restrooms, and all high-touch surfaces are cleaned and sanitized regularly.
Inquisiminds will make every effort to offer live Zoom access or recorded a la carte classes for students unable to attend in person.
Classes will be notified of any confirmed positive COVID-19 case reported to Inquisiminds.
Close contact is defined as:
An individual who was within 6 feet of a confirmed or probable case for 15 minutes or more cumulatively in one day, regardless of mask use.
Students who have symptoms, a positive test, or known exposure may not attend Inquisiminds for 5 days.
Students may return on Days 6–10 only if all of the following criteria are met:
Fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
Symptoms are improving
Student wears a mask indoors
Students who choose not to wear a mask may not return until a full 10 days have passed.
Students who test positive but do not develop symptoms may not return for 3 full days.
Day 0 is the date of the positive test.
If symptoms develop after testing positive, the isolation period restarts, with Day 0 being the first day of symptoms.
Siblings of a student who tests positive may not attend for 3 days after their last exposure and must receive a negative COVID test before returning.
Inquisiminds, its teachers, and staff and the owners at Lee Chapel Road Burke, VA assume no liability in any injuries incurred while using our programming or rental facilities, including personal injury from accidents or illness arising from participation in Inquisiminds activities (including but not limited to instruction, open and organized outdoor time, any and all classes, enrichment programs, injury during observation, individual use of facilities or equipment, and all premises including the associated sidewalks, basketball courts, playground and parking lots), or any and all claims resulting from the damage to, loss of, or theft of property. Parents are directly responsible for the welfare of their children while using our facilities and as such should be aware of the inherent risks surrounding activities with our group. Further, we believe that parents are a child’s first teacher and classes, field trips or other events hosted through Inquisiminds, should be used for enrichment purposes only. Inquisiminds cannot guarantee “learning” or academic advancement in any area.
By registering for classes at Inquisiminds, you agree that you have read and will abide by the policies outlined in this manual. Parents and students agree to comply with the policies herein as a requirement for participation at Inquisiminds. In addition, all parents and students must complete and sign the youth waivers at appendix 1 and bring it to the first day of class to be kept on file.
If a child is reported to the director to be uncooperative, disruptive or disrespectful, the following procedures will be followed:
On the first occurrence, the child will be spoken to by the teacher and/or the director and an email will be sent to the parent.
On the second occurrence, the student will be asked to sit out the remainder of the class and a parent/director meeting will be arranged. The student will not return to class until the meeting has occurred and the issue has been resolved.
On the third occurrence, the child will be removed from class and will not return to for the remainder of the session. No refund will be given for the class.
Parents must remain on the church property with children 8 years old and younger (by September 1 of the program year) or delegate another adult to be responsible for their child in case of emergency. Parents do not have to transfer children between back to back classes. For example, if your student is enrolled in a 2:30-3:20 class, we will transfer them to the next class at 3:30. Please pick up your child outside our entrance at the end of the second class. The only exception is for students attending the Academy program where parents are not required to stay on site. Students are not allowed on the playground or outside at any time without parental supervision.
Students who are between 9 and 12 years old (by September 1 of the program year) must be accompanied to their class by a parent, guardian or proxy, but they do not have to stay on campus while the student is in class. Students who are 13 years or older (by September 1 of the program year) can be dropped off. Drop-off students will go directly to their classroom. Students cannot be dropped off early for class as there is no inside waiting area. Parents will ensure the current emergency contact information is correct before drop-off is allowed.
Students are not to be dropped off for class any earlier than 5 mins prior to class start. Students must be picked up promptly at the end of class at our back door entrance.
Pohick Regional Library and Rolling Valley West Park are 3 mins drive from Inquisiminds.
Fire escape routes are posted, and we will all meet in the back part of the parking lot behind the building where the basketball courts are located.
Class fees have been established to allow members flexibility to choose the number of classes that best fit their educational, social, and financial needs. Additional material fees may apply and will be included in the class description.
We do not have any registration fees or online convenience fees. What you see as the class fee is the total price.
A student is allowed to transfer to another class, up until the beginning of the second class. A $30 change fee, in addition to the difference between the class costs, will be charged. No refund will be given for transferring to a less expensive class. The material/supply fee is non-refundable.
Most upper level high school classes (and some middle school classes) may have homework. Most teachers will not give out grades or administer tests but will communicate with parents on their child’s standing in the class to help that parent assign their child a grade for transcript purposes.
For the consideration and well being of others, please do not bring a child to class who is experiencing the following symptoms:
Fever over 100
Colored mucus (yellow or green snotty nose)
Diarrhea, vomiting or nausea (within the last 24 hours)
Gunky or crusty eyes
Virus, infection, or any other condition known to be contagious (to include ringworm and head lice)
Abiding Presence follows FCPS closures but Inquisiminds might have classes when FCPS doesn’t. We do not follow FCPS delays. If class is cancelled due to weather, we will post cancellations via Facebook and email by 8am the morning of class. We may have a backup day built in. If we do not, the teacher will make every effort to schedule a makeup class. We understand that families may be traveling from far distances. Each family should use their best judgment with regards to traveling safely in poor weather. Use your own discretion.
Inquisiminds periodically uses electronic and traditional media (e.g., photographs, video, audio footage, testimonials) for publicity and educational purposes. By registering for classes, students and parents give permission to Inquisiminds to use such reproductions for educational and publicity purposes in perpetuity without further notice.
Inquisiminds admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, and physical and intellectual abilities to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the program. Inquisiminds does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or physical and intellectual abilities in the administration of its program policies, admissions policies, or scholarship program.
Running should be contained to the fenced playground area and basketball court only.
Climbing is permitted on the playground equipment only. No climbing on anything else.
Playing is prohibited in the parking lots.
Furniture inside the building must stay in the building. Please bring your own chairs or blankets for use outside.
Children should be reminded to invite others to play and to keep their hands on their own bodies.
Some children enjoy rough play and others do not. Please save wrestling, sticks, swords, and Nerf blasters for at home. Our rented space does not have adequate space for this sort of play.
Parents must be on the church property with children 8 and under or delegate another adult to be responsible for their child(ren) in case of an emergency. In this case, the Parent/Legal Guardian Proxy must be completed and signed. There is no inside waiting are so parents will need to wait in their cars. No use of the church lobby is allowed. The only exception is for students attending our Academy program where parents are not required to stay on site.
Remind children how they are to conduct themselves in a classroom setting.
Monitor the behavior of their children.
Do not drop off students early for class and please pick up students promptly upon class completion.
Ensure that children 12 years and under are supervised at all times both inside and outside the building.
Adhere to the established discipline procedures.
Children 13 years or older must proceed directly to their class after completing the Student Conduct Agreement. There is no indoor waiting area for students or parents.
Parking is located in the second parking lot behind the building for free. Handicap parking is reserved for those with a parking tag issued by the state.
Service dogs are welcome on campus. No other animals are permitted.
The primary mode of communication between Inquisiminds and our community is via email. Please make sure you’re on the distribution list by establishing an account on our website. Parents with students registered for classes will receive weekly emails from their instructors with class summaries. This will help them to know what’s going on if they don’t get the full report through their child.
For upcoming information on classes, teachers, and events, please check out our Facebook page. Additionally, if weather-related closings prevent Inquisiminds from opening, these important announcements will be posted on Facebook.
The class fee is non-refundable.
The determination to hold a class will be made two weeks prior to the start of the term. If the minimum number of students is not met, the class will be canceled. If a class is canceled due to low enrollment, a full refund will be issued or can be used towards another class.
Registration is on a first come, first-served basis with first preference given to current students. Wait lists will be established so if circumstances change for a registered student, students on the wait list will be moved into the class. Students may enroll in a class late with teacher approval. Each request will be considered on a case by case basis. Please know that no personal information (name, age, address etc.) will be posted or given out at any time.
Inquisiminds offers a Scholarship Program to provide financial aid to families who have a demonstrated need and are currently enrolled in one or more Inquisiminds programs. To be eligible, families must complete an application during the application period and must maintain at least 50% attendance in their classes. Limited scholarships may be available for the Fall 2025 semester. If your family would like to apply for a scholarship, send an email to academy@inquisiminds.com. Scho
All families and children are welcome at Inquisiminds. However, our program is not designed to meet the needs of special needs students. If you have a student with learning challenges, please contact the director prior to registration. We will try to meet the needs of all students, but this may not be possible in all cases. Open communication and observation will help our teachers support you and your child’s needs. It is at the teacher’s discretion to allow a student to take their class when there are special needs. If it is determined during the course of the year that a student’s needs are making excessive demands upon the teacher or the class, the student may be dropped from the class. If your child has special needs or you have concerns for your child, we encourage you to speak with us before registration so we can see how/if we can accommodate your student.
Inquisiminds is handicap-accessible and is on the main floor of the building.
If a child has a serious medical issue, relevant information should be provided to Inquisiminds at the time of registration, and a parent must remain on the premises during all class times. Inquisiminds will not be responsible for administering medications.
Respect and obey your teacher.
Respect your peers and be cooperative. Bullying is not tolerated in any form.
Respect the property – this includes the church, classroom and any and all materials in them.
Conduct yourself in a safe and orderly manner. Enter through the Inquisiminds entrance and be quiet in the halls as others will be in class.
Be on time and prepared for class. Late arrival disrupts the class and is unfair to everyone involved.
No electronics shall be used in class unless the teacher specifically asks for it. This means cell phones, tablets, electronic gaming etc. should be set to silent and put away.
There is no food or drink except water allowed in the classrooms. Gum chewing during class is also not allowed.
Skates, healies, ripstiks, bicycles, and scooters are not to be used at Inquisiminds.
